Sleep disturbances - Vitality Wellness Clinic

What are sleep disturbances?

Sleep disturbances encompass a wide range of issues that can negatively impact the quality, timing, and duration of sleep. Common categories of sleep disturbances include:

• Insomnia - Difficulty falling or staying asleep. This can involve trouble getting to sleep at night or waking up frequently during the night.
• Sleep apnea - Brief pauses in breathing during sleep, leading to reduced oxygen levels. This can cause loud snoring and daytime fatigue.
• Restless leg syndrome - Unpleasant sensations in the legs accompanied by an irresistible urge to move them. Symptoms are most common at night.
• Circadian rhythm disorders - Misalignment between the body's internal clock and the external environment. Jet lag is a common example.

Sleep disturbances can have major effects on health and quality of life. People with disordered sleep may experience daytime fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and an increased risk of accidents or injury. Over the long term, ongoing sleep disturbances have been linked to chronic health issues like obesity, diabetes, heart disease and depression.

If you suffer from consistent or worsening symptoms of sleep disturbances, I highly recommend contacting a sleep specialist. Treatments like cognitive-behavioral therapy or carefully-timed light exposure can work wonders. The physicians at Vitality Wellness Clinic also have extensive experience diagnosing and resolving the hormonal imbalances that often underlie sleep disorders. Rebalancing your hormones through their tailored bioidentical hormone therapy regimes can help restore healthy, restorative sleep.

Sleep hygiene also plays a key role in minimizing sleep disturbances. Helpful habits include:

• Establishing a consistent sleep schedule
• Avoiding food, alcohol or screen use before bedtime
• Ensuring your bedroom is cool, quiet and dark
• Winding down with relaxing activities before bed
• Getting regular daylight exposure

Implementing healthy sleep habits can go a long way towards preventing or lessening sleep disturbances. But for recurring or severe symptoms, seeking professional medical advice is wise. The specialists at Vitality Wellness Clinic offer cutting-edge testing to uncover the root causes of your sleep disorders and craft customized treatment plans to help resolve them. Reach out today to start getting the restful sleep your body and mind deserve!